Harvesting instrumentality



Aug- 2, 1932- v w. E. URscHEL 1,869,529

HARVESTING INSTRUMENTALITY Alg- 2, 1932- w.- E. URscHEl. 1,869,529

HARVESTING INSTRUMENTALITY Filed April 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NMEAPatented 'Aug'. 2, 1932 l Aras rATi-:NroFFics Y WrLLIAivi E. URSCHEL, orVALPARAISO, INDIANA riAnvEsTING INs'inUMENTALITY Appncaucn ined Aprn ie,192s. serial No. 270,234.

This invention relates to harvesting inwith a sprocket wheel arranged torelease the strinnentalities and more particularly to soil foreignsubstances carried in association embedded article pulling meanstherefor, altherewith. through certain features thereof may be em- Stilla further object is to provide a wheel ployed with equal advantage forother purhaving alternate depressions formed therein 5 poses. to defineformations on the periphery thereit contemplates more especially thepro. of to enable the meshing thereof with a convision of improvedImeans for effecting the veyor to effect relative movement thereberemovalof soil embedded articles in the contween.

Tia veyance l thereof through a predetermined Other objects andadvantages will appear su path for the purpose of severing theappendfrom .the following description of 'an illusages therefrom. tratedembodiment of the present invention.

Soil embedded. articles such as beets have In the drawings: foliagethereon which protrudes erectly Figure 1 is a side View in elevation ofa detlierefrom exteriorof the soil. Harvesting vice having articlepulling means in associ- 65 devices have heretofore been provided withation therewith for the purpose of harvesting article pulling me( nsthereon inan effort to crops. Y

engage the eiiposedfoliage of soil embedded Figure 2 is a side view inelevation of a articles; however, certain of these have not conveyoremployed in connection with the 'M-CJ- proven entirely satisfactory inthat they harvesting machine disclosed in Figure 1, 70

crush, shear7 or otherwise destroy the exposed parts thereof beingbroken away to clarify appendages in a. manner which precludes an theshowing.

effective grasp thereon just prior to the con Figure 3 is` a plan viewof the conveyors vevance thereof through a predetermined disclosed inFigure 2, parts thereof'being repath to effect the removal of thearticles from moved to show the internal structure thereof. 75

the soil. ln fact, known harvesting evices Figure 4e is an enlargedfragmentary perof this character are not sufliciently eicient spectiveview of a chain embodying features to warrant their adoption in thatnumerous n of the present invention. l

`crops are destroyed or otherwise mutilated Figure 5 is asectional viewtaken substan- E0 prior to the removal thereof from the soil. tiallyalong line V-V of Figure Li. 80

One object of the present invention is to Figure 6 is a perspective viewof a member simplify the construction and improve the adapted to meshwith the chain disclosed in operation of devices of the character men-Figure 4. tioiied. l Figure 7 is a perspective view of an indi- Ainotherobject is to provide improved arvidual link used in association with thechain 85 ticle pulling and conveying instrumentalities disclosed inFigure 4. in association with harvesting devices. Figure 8 is aperspective view of a con- Another object is the provision of a novelnector employed between the rings to effect a conveyor having yieldableengaging surfaces Y flexible connection therebetween.

420 thereon in iexible association therewith. Figure 9 is a fragmentaryperspective view 90 Still another object is Vto provide novel of meansfor maintaining the coacting convmeans for moving confronting endlessbands veyors in position. y

in contacting relation to constitute article en- The structure selectedfor illustration comgaging instrumentalities. prises a frame 10preferably constructed of sprocket wheels in association with a chain totained at any desired elevation by traction release the foreignsubstances therefrom. -wheels 12. The wheels 12 arejournalled on A stillfurther object is to provide a novel shafts 13 secured to the members 11transendless chain having ayieldable band in asversely thereof to enablethe traverse of the 50 sociation therewith for meshing engagement frame1() by harnessing the tongue 14 thereof .100

A further object-,is the provision of novel elongated steel members 11which are main- 95 to any suitable means of locomotion. A pair of Wheelsare ournalled on suitable brackets 16 which are rotatably mounted invertically disposed bearings 17 secured to the members 11 in the usualmanner. The Wheels 15 are capable of being turned in any direction forsteering` purposes owing to the rotary movement of the brackets 16 inthe bearings 17.

Soil embedded crops such as beets 18 have exposed appendages 19 thereonto enable their removal from the soil. The present invent-ioncontemplates the provision of improved pulling means therefor whichcomprise, in this instance, an article engaging carrier constituting apair of conveyor members 20. Each conveyor 2O consists of complementalsections 21 and 22 of arcuate configuration. The complemental membersare stamped or otherwise shaped from sheet material to 1mpresslongitudinal ridges 23 therein terminating in transverse ridges 24 nearthe upper extremity thereof to serve as a reinforcement therefor. `As aconsequence, the conveyor members are ri'gidiiied towithstand thestresses, thereby better serving to sustain the instrumentalities inoperative posit-ion.

T hesc sections 21 and 22 are maintained in the desired spaced relationby means of tubular elements 25 which receive carriage bolts 26therethrough to effect the rigid joinder thereof so that theinstrumentalities may be concealed therein'. Sprocket wheels 27 arej'ournalled on shafts 28 disposed transversely through the sections 21and 22 in proximity to the extremities thereof to guide endless chains29 thereover. A plurality of idler rollers 39 are journalled in themembers 20, they being in contact with the chains 29 s0 as to effecttheguidance thereof to define and traverse an arcuate path corresponding incontour to that of the members 20.

To maintain the chains 29 tensioned, one of the rollers 30 is journalledin an arm 31 carried bya pin 32 iixed intermediate the sections 21 and22 therein to impart an urge to the chains 29 in an approachingdirection. The roller 30 is urged outwardly in engagement with the chain29 to increase the tension thereof owing to a resilient spring 33 whichis held in position by means of a rod 33 axially disposed therein. Oneextremity of the spring 33 impinges against the arm 31 with the otherend thereof engaging a portion of the tubular member 20.

The endless conveying' chains 29 each consist of a series of links 34stamped or otherwise shaped to provine upstanding sides 35 defining achannel 36 therebetween. -is shown, the upstanding sides 35 are providedwith aligned apertures 37 near the ends thereof to cooperate withcorrespondingly shaped apertures 38 provided in elongated bars 39 whichare disposed on either side of the upstanding sides 35 of the links toserve as a connection therebetween. Suitable rivets 40 are projectedthrough the apertures 38 in the* connecting bars 39 to engage theapertures of the links 34, there being swaged heads and shoulders 41 and43, respectively, provided upon therivet 40 to maintain the links andbars joined to each other to enable relative flexible movementtherebetween. The shoulders 43 bear against the face 42 of the links 34,thereby preventing the rivets from being displaced from the assembly.The shank portion 43 of each rivet 40 projecting into each of theapertures 37 of the links 34 is of considerably larger diameter than theremainder thereof lodged within the apertures 33 in the connecting bar39. The shoulder 44 defined by the jointure of the portions 40 and 43which are ofvar ying diameter projects slightly beyond the lateralsurfaces 35 of the links 34 to serve as an abutting surface for theconnecting bars As a consequence, contact will be removed from thelateral surfaces 35 of the links 34, thereby precluding any wearthereon.

To enable 'the exposed appendages 19 of the soil embedded articles 18 tobe effectively grsped, article engaging surfaces are provided on thechains 29. The engaging surfaces consist, in this instance, of flexibleendless bands 45 having a substantially rectangular cross section whichgradually diminishes in width for reception in the channel 36 of thelinks 34 connected together to constitute chains 29. Any suitablefasteners may be employed to secure the flexible band 45 to the chains29, and in this instance the fasteners comprise oppositely disposedprojecting lugs 16 constituting extensions of the rivets 40 whichproject within grooves 47 provided in the lateral surfaces of theflexible bands 45. As shown, the grooves 47 have an undercut arcuatesection 48 with a perpendicular face which corresponds substantially incurvature with the inwardly directed projections 46 each having aperpendicular face.

To retain the bands 45 from removal Without injury thereto, theextensions 46 are provided in a flat diametral surface 49 which engagesa correspondingly shaped surface 48 on the upper side of the flangeconstituting a part of the groove 47 in confronting relation with thecurved wall 48 thereof, it being noted that the yieldable band 45 has asection of diminished thickness seated intermediate the 11p-standingsides of the channel 36. The portion 51 of the band 45 above the groove47 is coextensive with the exterior surface of the upstanding sides 35of the links 34 to rest thereon so that the outermost surfaces 52 of theband will project therebeyond to cooperate with the correspondingsurface of the other conveyor member chain 29 which engage each otherfor movement in unison between the limits a-- In order to effect thelinear movement Y the exposed Veo' vthis end,

the links 34, thereby forming bear-ing surface on either sidethereof tocoact with the periphery surfacesl of the idler and tensioning rollers30 which are provided' with grooves' 55 in the periphery thereof 53`therein so that a smooth guiding fri-ctional reaction will be createdtol guide the traverse ofthe chains l29 in the desired arcuate path. 15l

Obviously, foreign `mat-ter will become lodged in the -crevices of thechains 29, and to provide-means for the release thereof, `the sprockets27 are of novel construction. To he sprocket wheels 27 are provided withalternately spaced depressions 56 in the lateral walls, these beingdisposed in radial relation to define transverse ridges 57 in theperiphery 58 of the sprockets 27. lt is to be noted that the ridges 57in the periphery of the sprockets 27 communica-tc with the depressions56 so that the foreign matter carri-ed by the chains 29, will be lodgedtherein for discharge laterally thereof from the depressions 56, therebyrelieving the chains 29 of whatever foreign substances adhere thereto.

The urge of the spring 33 automatically tensions the chain 29 andmaintains the adjacent surfaces 52-of the elastic bands 45 of eachconveyor unit in frictional engagement to edect the removal of the cropsby engaging appendages thereof for gradual elevation along the pathdefined by the conveyor to effect their removal from the soil. As shown,both the conveyors 20 are'disposed in a common plane in that they aresimilar in shape, structure, and contour to effect the vdesi-rcdpurpose.

The yieldable suspension of the conveyors 20 is, in this insta-nce,effected by means of a spiral spring 59 having one extremity thereofsecured to a bell crank 60 `which is supported on the suitable standard6l resting on' a cross member 62' constituting a part of the frame 10.The other end of the spring .59 is secured to the stud shaft 63 which,in this instance, is operatively connected to the foot pedal 64 throughappropriate linkage 65 and 66 having the extremities thereof pivoted toeach other and to the shaft 63. A horizontally disposed arm 67terminates ina vertically disposed Vportion 68 which is integrally orotherwise secured to one ofthe members 2O nearthe lower end thereof, thearm 67 being provided with a bore 69 substantially along the median linethereof'to receive the stud shaft 63 therethrough. The member 20 of theother conveyor unit is provided' with an arm 70 having a bored extremity71 to i' receive the stud shaft 63 adj-acentto and in to receive theteeth veratively -connected with a alignment withV the bore 69 of thearm l67, thereby rendering the conveyor u-nits separable along thecommon axis, in this instance the shaft 63.V A' spiralspring 72 isinter- :position to normally ten-d the separation of the freeextremities of the arms 67 and 70 whereby the conveyorunits 2O arecaused to resiliently engage each other.

It is to .be noted that the conveyor units 20V. t are adj ustablysuspended responsive to the foot pedals so that the mouth thereof maybe' laterally adjusted to vbring it in alignment with the crops whichare usually disposed alongl a straight line. The crops are guided to theengaging surfaces of the pullers or engaging surfaces 52 of the bands 45byvmeans of a pair of metal plates 74 secured to the forward ends of themembers 2O to denea V- shaped throat which increases the operating rangeof the machine. The discharge ends of the conveyors 2O are each providedwith normally disposed housings 7 5 having a vflanged extremity 76'associated therewith.

The housings are bolted or otherwise secured to the members 20 by meansof fasteners 77 in the usual manner, they being pivotally secured to astandard 78 which is fixed to the frame 10; Driving shafts 7 9 areournalled within the housings 75 for fixed association with the gears 27confined in aligned relation .therewith within the conveyor memrbers 201n that the other extremities thereof are provided with gears 8O inoperative engagement with the sprocket wheel 81. ,The sprocket wheel 81i-s driven by a chain 82 opmeshes with a sprocket 84 fixed to shafts 13upon which the traction wheels 12 are fixed to imp art rotary movementthereto responsive to the traverse of the frame 10 over the soil.

With the above arrangement of parts it will be apparent that a novelmechanism'has been provided for effecting the engagement Vof soilembedded crops tofimpart a pull thereon for conveyance through a gradualelevated path without producing the usual iny jury or rupturesincidental thereto. The vertical pull on the articles 18 varies owing`to the arcuate contour of the conveyor units 20, since the initialmovement thereof laterally crops have been loosened from the soil by aplow 85 disposed from the frame 10.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinspecifically `only directs a slight upwardpull until the describedwithout departing from or sacrif-' ficing any of the advantages thereofas defined in the appended claims.

' A chain, not possessing' the interlocking means herein illustrated anddescribed, and

over which the present invention is animprovement, is illustrated in thepatent" to William E. Urschel numbered 1,727,020, dated September 3,1929. Reference should also be had kto the patentees Letters Patent,numbered 1,7 75,149, and dated September 9, 1930.

I claim:

1. The combination with a series of links connected by rivetsconstituting a chain defining an endless channel, of a yieldable banddisposed in said channel, there being grooves in saidband adjacent theWalls of said channel, and heads on said rivets projecting into saidgrooves to effect a flexible joinder therebetween. i

2. The combination with a pair of arcuate members, of endless chainsgeared to said members, yieldable bands providing faces for said chainsand disposed to engage with each other Within predetermined limits oftheir travel, and means for driving said chains in unison.

3. The combination With an elongated member having sprocket Wheelsjournalled therein in spaced relation, of an endless chain meshing Withsaid sprocket Wheels, a yieldable band on said chain to constitute theengaging surface thereof, said chain being channelled to receive saidband, means on said chain projecting into said channel to engage saidband to effect the retention of the latter, teeth formed on said chainon the obverse side of the channel, and formations on the periphery ofsaid sprocket W reels to engage said teeth, there being depressions onthe lateral surfaces ofsaid sprocket Wheels to communicate With saidformations to receive the foreign substances therefrom.

4. The combination with an elongated member having sprocket Wheelsjournalled therein in spaced relation, of an endless chain meshing withsaid sprocket Wheels, a yieldable band on said chain to constitute theengaging surface thereof, said chain being channelled to receive saidband, means on said chain projecting into said channel to engage saidband to effect the retention of the latter, teeth formed on said chainon the obverse side of the channel, formations on the periphery of saidsprocket Wheels to engage said teeth, there being depressions on thelateral surfaces of said sprocket Wheels to communicate with saidformations to receive the foreign substances therefrom, and idlerrollers in frictional engagement with said chain and grooved to receivethe chain teeth therein.

5. VIn combination, a plurality of links constituting an endless chain,each of said links having an upstanding side with an in-.

. wardly directed projection having a perpendicular face, and a flexibleband on said chain and having a section seated intermediate theupstanding sides of said links, there being in said band an undercutsection with perpendicular face to engage the complemental face of saidprojection.

6. In combination, a series lof links flexibly connected one to another,each of said links having on one face a channel section,

there being a projecting lug in said channel section having a faceparallel to the plane of said link, and a yieldable endless band eX-tending into said channel section and having a transverse sectionproviding a flange'` adapted to engage said lugs.

7. In combination, a series of flexibly connected links constitutingalchain defining an endless channel, and a yieldable band disposed insaid channel, said links having' means associated With said band andsaid` links to effect a fieXible joinder, said band having grooves inopposed sides thereof to receive said links.

9. The combination With a series of links having connecting membersconstituting a chain defining an endless channel, of a yieldable banddisposed in said channel, there being grooves in said band in thelateral surfaces thereof, and means on said members projecting into saidgrooves to flexibly re-.

tain said band in said channel.

10. The combination vvith a series of links having connecting membersconstituting a chain defining an endless channel, of a yieldable banddisposed in said channel, there being grooves in said band in thelateral surfaces thereof, and means on said members projecting into saidgrooves to retain said band in said channel, said projecting meansengaging the material Within said grooves.

11. The combination With an elongated member having sprocket Wheelsjournalled therein in spaced relation, of an endless chain of linksmeshing with said sprocket Wheels, an elastic band on said chain andsecured thereto to constitute the .external surface thereof, said chainbeing channelled to receive said band, and means on said chainprojecting inwardly of t-he lateral surfaces of said band to effect theretention thereof in the channel of said chain.

12. The combination With an elongated member having'sprocket Wheelsjournalled therein in spaced relation, of an endless chain meshing withsaid sprocket Wheels, a yieldable band on said chain to constitute theouter surface thereof, said chain being channelled to receive said band,means on said chain projecting into said channel and beyond the lateralsurfaces O Said band to engage said hand to effect the retention of thelatter on said chain, teeth formed on said chain on the obverse side ofthe channel, and formations on the periphery of said sprocket Wheels toengage said teeth.

WLLIAM E. URSGHEL.

